SOUTH Adelaide top-end AFLW Draft prospect Emma Charlton produced a phenomenal midfield performance on the weekend in the SANFLW. In a dominant 74-point victory over Glenelg, the Panthers rewrote the record books with their highest ever SANFLW score, winning 13.10 (88) to 2.2 (14) at Magain Stadium in Round 11. Charlton was the catalyst in the middle, bossing the stoppages and providing relentless two-way running.

The evasive and hard-working midfielder amassed 32 disposals, two marks, nine clearances, eight tackles and seven inside 50s, while also hitting the scoreboard with a goal. Her performance was a masterclass in contested ball-winning, clean hands under pressure, and aggressive transition.

BACKGROUND

Name: Emma Charlton
Height: 160cm
DOB: 19/06/2008
Position: Midfielder-Forward
Clubs: South Adelaide

Charlton is a highly-touted prospect for the 2026 AFLW Draft, bringing elite consistency and an insatiable appetite for the contest. The younger sister of Adelaide Crows star Teah, she shares similar evasive traits and a ferocious tackling ability. A member of the Marsh AFLW National Academy, she was the South Australian MVP at the Under 18 National Championships as a bottom-ager and won the best on ground medal in South Adelaide’s 2025 SANFLW premiership. Despite standing at 160cm, she packs a punch around the ball and refuses to shy away from the physical contest.

PLAYER FOCUS

Stats vs. Glenelg, Round 11: 32 disposals, 2 marks, 9 clearances, 8 tackles, 7 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind.

QUARTER ONE

Starting on-ball, Charlton was immediately involved in the action. Receiving a handball on the defensive side of the wing, she quickly kicked down the ground to keep the ball moving. Her defensive pressure was on show early, executing a brilliant pinning tackle on Glenelg captain Ellie Kellock that won her a free kick and subsequent 25-metre penalty when the ball was thrown back harshly. She used the advantage to deliver a fierce ball return, kicking inside 50 to a leading target.

Later in the term, Charlton showed her persistence. After a quick kick inside 50 was cleared by the Bays, she worked hard to win the ball back, tapping it cleverly to a teammate. She continually demonstrated clean hands, managing to fire off a handball while being tackled. Emerging with the ball on the wing, she drove it back into the middle, and then laid a great tackle on Georgie Fielder, dragging her down in the centre square. Just before the siren, Charlton threw the ball on the boot in the defensive 50, sending it safely downfield.

QUARTER TWO

Charlton started the second term in the middle and continued to accumulate possessions. Emerging out of a stoppage at half-back, she fired off quick hands and followed up her own work to win another neat handball in the back pocket. Her forward craft was highlighted when she marked 60 metres out from goal, delivering a good kick inside 50 to set up a dangerous opportunity.

Her tackling pressure paid dividends again when she won a holding the ball free kick against Maya Vonarx, subsequently kicking to a contest. Charlton’s vision and skill execution were on full display when she received a handball and delivered a lovely kick to Layla Vizgaudis at half-forward. She capped off a strong half by shrugging a tackle and launching a nice kick down the wing.

QUARTER THREE

The third quarter saw Charlton hit the scoreboard and continue her dominance. At the eight-minute mark, she gathered the ball, gave a quick handball off, and was taken high in the process. Taking the resulting set shot from 30 metres out, she confidently slotted the goal.

Her clean hands and great strength were evident at the 13-minute mark, providing a good dish-off when no one else could pick up the ball on the wing. At the 15.5-minute mark, she executed a nice, effective kick from the wing into the middle. Charlton then turned provider late in the term, setting up a goal for Doreena Hansen with a precise forward pass at the 19.5-minute mark.

QUARTER FOUR

With the game well and truly in South Adelaide’s control, Charlton started the final quarter on-ball and didn’t drop her intensity. She gathered and kicked into the middle, followed by strong tackling in the centre. At a secondary ball-up, she sharked the tap perfectly and drove the ball to half-forward.

At the six-minute mark, she threw the ball on the boot from half-forward, directing it to the hotspot. A minute later, she produced a clever snap on goal that looked destined for a second major – she even started to celebrate – but it was ultimately called a behind.

Late in the game, Charlton marked inside 50, doing well to find a dangerous spot that led to a shot on goal. At the 20-minute mark, her quick kick going forward set up Hope Taylor for her third goal of the match. Charlton finished her stellar performance with a nicely executed short pass off half-back.

CONCLUSION

Charlton’s 32-disposal, nine-clearance and eight-tackle performance against Glenelg was a masterclass from one of the most consistent players in the SANFLW. What makes Charlton such a compelling prospect is her complete package: the elite contested ball-winning ability, the clean hands in traffic, the evasiveness to break lines, and the relentless defensive pressure to hunt the opposition.

Her ability to seamlessly transition between dominating the stoppages and impacting the scoreboard highlights her immense value to South Adelaide. As she continues to perform at such a high level week in and week out, Charlton is undeniably cementing her status as a premier prospect for the 2026 AFLW Draft.